The article examines the three proposals put forward by the Schools Council for Curriculum and Examinations to change the examination structure for school leavers in Great Britain: the 16-plus examination, the Certificate of Extended Education, and the 18-plus examination. (MW)

In response to concern that open admissions was contributing to declining student preparation and institutional reputation, Practical Bible Training School, a small, private college, proposed new admission criteria: an American College Testing Service (ACT) score of 15, a Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) combined score of 700, or a 2.00 high school…

Retention of pupils results in a need for additional teachers, facilities, and materials at a rate approximating the rate of retention. Retention is a more serious problem for the state, which needs to pay most of these increased costs. This paper reviews the research evidence to assess the cost-effectiveness of student retention policies.…

The Association of Teacher Educators (ATE) has established a Commission on Alternative Certification and charged it with writing standards for nontraditional teacher certification programs. The ATE does not advocate the use of emergency-certified and out-of-license college graduates in the place of integrated four- or five-year teacher education…

Acute resource limitations and demands for better prepared teachers have resulted in the imposition of enrollment caps on many U.S. teacher preparation programs. The subjects of this study included students who were selected to enter the elementary education program and who eventually enrolled in student teaching (N=93). Spearman correlations were…

This handbook is intended to serve the following purposes: (1) to provide information on the organization and operation of secondary schools in Alberta; (2) to communicate guidelines that have proved useful in organizing and operating secondary schools; and (3) to inform administrators of regulations and requirements specified by the Alberta…

A study was conducted at Cincinnati Technical College (CTC) to discover whether college athletes, particularly basketball players, performed as well as their non-athlete counterparts in terms of grade point average (GPA), credit hours completed, and graduation. A sample of 51 CTC basketball players was matched against a sample of 51 non-players…

This report was prepared to inform and advise the presidents of state colleges and universities of the scope of the current nationwide movement for teacher education reform, and offer recommendations for action. It also assesses briefly principal recommendations for change in teacher education with particular reference to the responsibilities,…

This paper focuses specifically on paper and pencil testing as a tool contributing to a quality teaching force. Information is presented for those who have responsibility or interest in state level policies for using such tests to promote educational quality. Using institutional stages of a teacher's career as an organizing scheme for test use,…

In response to a legislative mandate, this report by the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges (BGCCC) presents a plan for implementing a system of student matriculation at the colleges and describes the plan's development. Section I introduces the legislative directive to the BGCCC and the appointment and charge of a Task Force…

A study was conducted at Miami-Dade Community College (MDCC) to determine the impact of raising the minimum grade point average (GPA) from 1.50 to 1.75. A cohort of 1,745 credit students was identified based on their end-of-term GPA for the fall term 1982. The cohort, which consisted of students who completed the term with a GPA between 1.50 and…

Changes that might reduce dropout rates as high school graduation standards are raised are discussed. A review of research on successful dropout prevention programs reveals four common characteristics: (1) they separate potential dropouts from other students; (2) they have strong vocational components; (3) they utilize out-of-class learning; and…

Results are presented of a nationwide telephone survey of 1,200 adults --conducted from November 1984 to January 1985--that examined the public's response to secondary school reform. The public wants greater student accountability, greater teacher initiative and accountability, and upgraded curricula. Ninety-five percent of the respondents…

A policy statement on the accreditation process as adopted by the Council on Postsecondary Accreditation (COPA) is presented. The process requires an honest, rigorous self-analysis, an on-site evaluation by a team of peers, a team report, a review by an accrediting body, and final action defining the accredited status of the institution or program…

The history of training programs for student services professionals is reviewed. As higher education meets with changes in social issues and student characteristics, student services professionals have had to improve the quality of the educational experience, attract new student groups, and retain students. In 1980, some professional associations…